I landed in San Diego on Thursday night with a small pack of bike and swimming gear. I was prepared (as best as I could be) for Jason's "recovery" weekend.

First order of business: chill out on Shelter Island drinking a beer and eating sushi by the yacht club. We moved over to the 24' boat that Jason's sailing club owned and watched the marina activities. What a very different world from NM.

Friday: We hopped on mountain bikes and road down the single track through Penasquitos Canyon to General Atomics. It was a hot 10 mile, 10am ride down to the campus, a tour of the labs, and then back up the canyon in the noontime sun. Luckily there were a couple spot where heat exhaustion was slowed, when the trail worked into the trees and through the creek.

We headed out to Silver Strand and Coronado Cays to visit a friend of Jason's from High School. Victor's wife's side of the family had a house and a wonderful 38' sailboat. We took it for a spin under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge with the extended family. It was a little bit of a party cruise with Jason and I and our cooler. So much fun! Then we weaseled our way into a great dinner with the family afterwards.

Saturday: The next day we headed out for a long 21 mile bike ride back down to Shelter Island. Jason's bike racing skills are still as strong as ever but I did my best to draft my way down to the ocean. We took out the 18' boat and had a great time in the bay. It's cool to be out there under sail cruising past the city skyline, military ships, and tons of other sailboats. I especially liked the seals sunbathing on the buoys. We sailed over to Coronado and got some pizza and beer for lunch. I did my best at the tiller, but my skills and vocabulary were weak after 3 years of landlubbery since I last took the Georgia Tech sailing class. We jump back in the boat after the meal and headed into the wind back to the marina.

After a full day of sun, derigging, and lots of BBQ pizza, I really didn't feel like a 21 mile ride, but Jason did most of the work and I suffered along at 19-22 mph. Jason managed to take his eyes off the road for a second while I was passing for a pull and he found his weight and his tire on opposite sides of my rear wheel. It was enough to catch his front wheel and he went down at 20-25 mph into the 4-lane road. Road-rashed and ego-bruised Jason and I were glad to get back home.

Sunday: Jason was up at 4:30am to go run a 15K race. My legs were in no shape for that, so I slept in and took Chama (the dog) for a walk. We headed off for the awards ceremony and breakfast around 10:30 and then took a long loop in the SAAB up into the mountains through Alpine, Pine Valley, and Julian. We tasted a few mediocre local wines at the Country Cellar. We ripped passed Lake Henshaw and over Palomar Mountain to San Diego. After a delicious barbecue steak with green chile, it was time to get on a plane again. Fun weekend!

After canceling the Chicago Basin trip, I had a whole weekend to relax and repair my IT bands.

Friday - Meet up with boys for a night of partying downtown.Saturday - Helped Jeanne move, pizza and beer, and then watched the Dark Knight Rises.Sunday - Created a cool photo montage. Called out to Cuba for AMRC mission, but couple were found before Brad and I got out there. Mojitos and Descent 2 at J&L's.

Monday Went over to Mike's for backyard minigolf, drinks, and highlander. On my way home, ran into a bit of trouble when my bulging tire kept expanding. The thumping got louder and louder until KABLOOM! Insto-flat! ...long walk.

I went into the Tri knowing that I wouldn't be able to run with my IT band issues. This said, I wasn't prepared for the results I saw on Monday. I was leading the age group by 10 minutes after the bike!!! What a freaking rip off. This was probably my one chance to win my age group and I was injured for it! There were three 25-29 year olds signed up who would normally beat me. One didn't show, one moved up to the overall top 3, and one must have flatted judging by the times.

Swim: Got battered right away in the water and it continued for nearly a mile. I finally got some space on the 3rd leg of the triangle, but then the next heats started in, and I was back in the fray. I didn't help that I was having trouble swimming straight for the buoys and could only see about a foot in the murky waters.

Bike: Good for the most part. The roubaix was great on the bumpy dam road and there wasn't too much wind. I definitely do well on the climbs. After watching people pass me on the flats and the big guys crush the downhills, I took a lot of joy in repassing them. Watched in dismay as a chick in a pink aero helmet road right past me. When I saw the 27 age written on her leg, I did my best to catch back up to try and get a date out of the race, but she was too strong. (Melissa Welker went on to win the overall women's.) I ripped the last downhill into the transition area with particular style because I jumped off the lip onto the boat ramp with everyone watching - probably a few inches of air on a road bike!

Run: Came off the bike, GUed, and was fresh to run the 6.2 miles. Almost instantly, knee was killing me. I climbed the hill, back down, watched Tom running his usual, killer 6 min/mile pace, and promptly gave up. Walked the 5 miles into the finish. The old 60+ folks were nice enough to say things like, "you can do it, don't give up" and "I hope you're on your cool-down." I think that sealed it. I will be back to exact my revenge on the olympic distance tri community.

I climbed The Ramp with Mike on Saturday. We ripped it up to the crest in the SAAB 99 (Sorry Mike), and then headed down Echo Canyon. Mike and I did the 4 pitch climb in 2 pitches (rope drag X a million), but I was proud to have managed the face climb and even did the 5.8 variation up to the set of bolts. Mike lead pitches 3&4 and did a nice job sewing up the roof. We spent the rest of the morning climbing up and around something we hoped was called "the fin" in search of a set of bolts to rappel on. They were never found.

Kevin and I took a 3 day weekend to play around in the Sangres in celebration of Kevin's 30th birthday. We got a cookie in Crestone, CO before hiking up from the Buddhist Zen Center thruogh Spanish Creek. The blowdown (317 tree crossings supposedly) plus strong rain/sleet did not make the hike in pleasant. The storm blew off though, and we dried/melted our socks and boots with a fire while cooking up some Mountain House and sipping wine.

4:15am - Awake5:05am - Out of camp after oatmeal breakfast6:05am - First pitch of climbing - we did it free up to the crux move.7:05am - Finally roped up and practiced for the overhanging 5.8 crux. Kevin led into the chilly vertical world. I second with freezing fingers and am suprised by the 30 meters of runout on the top of the pitch.8:05am - I lead pitch 2 and choose to go right and end up off-route and stressed with hundreds of feet of exposure and only a tricam keeping me from a factor 2 fall. I eventually get back on route and fight rope drag to the top of the climb.9:35am - Kevin joins me at the belay, and he begins simul-climbing the 5.5-5.6 lower angle upper pitches.11:05am - Summit the prow.11:35am - Summit Challenger Point12:30pm - Summit Kit Carson after knocking off the last pitch of the climb.1:35pm - Summit Columbia Point2:05pm - Summit Kitty Kat Carson2:35pm - Summit Obstruction Peak3:00pm - By now, I've become crippled from my hamstring/knee issue from the 7 mi run a week ago. I hang out in The Bear's Playground while Kevin fastpacks it toward Humboldt Peak. The thunder turns him around and we slowly work our way back to camp down Spanish creek. We enjoy watching all the deer jumping around through the bushes and, with what little strength was left, do a little bouldering.5:30pm Back in camp for food and bourbon.

We hiked out in the morning and checked out Tres Piedras for climbing options on the way back to ABQ.

Got a sluggish and painful 5.3 mile run in after work on Friday. Ted was sold out, so Ben, Tobi and I hit up a kickball party and then Anodyne.

Saturday morning, I managed to get motivated and bike around the city (40.2 mi). Munched on some fruit and then ran the Ridgecrest lap (3 mi) to the pool and did a continuous 2500 yds (1.4 mi). Brutal workout before the heat kicked in! Relax time!

Sunday - Climbed Crackula (5.8) with Kevin. Easy approach - right at the junction of the La Luz and Spur trails. I knocked out the first pitch with a few deep breaths, but my placements were good so that made me happy. Kevin easily finished the route. We got off the crest around noon as the monsoon started rolling in. Then I helped Kevin finish building his new chicken coop for the 5 noisey birds.

Floated the Chama for the first time this last weekend. We used inflatable kayaks (IKs) and took the Saab 99 up to the put in. After the bridge the water was excellent. 2+/3- waves to play around in. Only sad part was that I lost my coozie.

Ok run - started strong but then fell into a slower rhythm at about mile 2. Bike felt fast with all the people that I was passing, but I now know that I lost the race here. Just couldn't push harder for some reason and had slight knee pain. The swim wasn't too quick, but I was breathing every stroke and my flip turns under the lane lines didn't work out perfectly. Overall a relaxed race, with a relaxed result.

5/15 in age group.43/196 males - 56th on the run, 62nd on the bike, and 37th on swim.49/441 overall (male, female, and teams).

Friday - Craig and I rode up to Tijeras at lunch (21 miles) and then I met up with Ben and Leigh for a run with the new run FARR (Friday Afternoon Rescue Runners) group. Ended up doing 7.6 miles in 83 min.

Saturday - Up early and getting some vertical with my Baruntse mountaineering boots. Did a painful 6 miles and totally blistered my heals on both feet. I'm going to have to do major work with them to build up to Rainier vertical and distance! Met up with the AMRC OCC at Ranger Rock for high angle practice. It's fun being on the other side of the learning curve and helping the new guys learn the ropes. Got a beer with Lance to talk him into the Rainier trip at Molly's, a biker bar in Tijeras with live country/rock - that was an experience. Cycled downtown for a uninspiring date at Anodyne (4 mi, -400 ft elevation) and then had to ride back up in the rain and dark; how fitting.

Sunday - Final spring soccer game with Lovelace. Started the game at the top of the table of 22 second division teams. Ended in 2nd place with a sad 3-5 loss. Our defense fell apart a couple times on fast breaks. Hard to keep up when fit, young Mexicans are running at you all game. I played a mediocre left halfback and felt bad for not pressuring harder... but no injuries! I was happy to have a beer and burger with the team in celebration of a good season.

After the success on Flake 'n Bake, I had Mike come out to continue my trad climbing lessons. We climbed Revenge of the Elderly and ran into a couple work friends on the route next to us! Slab sport on the 1st pitch, which made me a little nervous. Then a little crack work to a cave/bridge on the 2nd, followed by an interesting stretch where I practiced placing nuts and cams, then running out of slings, then spaciously placing pro and finally to the top!

Led a couple laps up flake n' bake (5.5) in Lower La Cueva Canyon to break in my trad rack. I appreciate Mike and Tom's help in providing some pointers for a beginner. It took a while, but no dramas aside from organizing the double ropes while tandem belaying two partners and needing to borrow a headlamp for the 2nd climb and hike out.